Elevator construction for coating control equipment

ABSTRACT

An elevator construction for holding and positioning jet nozzle coating control equipment with respect to a vertically extending strip of coated metal. A horizontal platform is supported by two pairs of parallel support links above a fixed base. The support links, base and platform are arranged in a parallelogram or pantographic configuration. A pair of control links, one-half the length of the support links, are pivotally attached at the midpoints of the pair of the support links and to the base. A frame is slidably mounted within the base and the lower ends of the support links are pivotally attached thereto, whereby straight-line horizontal movement of the frame within the base imparts a straight-line vertical motion to the platform through the movement of the support and control links. Blocks for supporting the jet nozzles are slidably mounted in horizontal slideways formed in the platform for horizontal movement of the jet nozzles towards and away from the coated strip, independent of the vertical position of the platform.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,783,824 Jan. 8, 1974 Kohler et al.

1 ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTION FOR COATING CONTROL EQUIPMENT [75] Inventors: John B. Kohler, North Canton;

David H. Croston, Navarre, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: The Kohler Coating Machinery Corporation, Greentown, Ohio [22] Filed: May 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 258,063

[52] US. Cl. 118/63, 34/229 [51] Int. Cl. B05c 11/06 [58] Field of Search 118/63, 419;

117/64 R, 64 C, 102 M, 102 L; 34/222, 229; 134/64; 15/415, 418, 419

[56] References Cited Primary Examiner- Morris Kaplan Att0rney.lohn H. Bishop et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An elevator construction for holding and positioning jet nozzle coating control equipment with respect to a vertically extending strip of coated metal. A horizontal platform is supported by two pairs of parallel support links above a fixed base. The support links, base and platform are arranged in a parallelogram or pantographic configuration. A pair of control links, one-half the length of the support links, are pivotally attached at the midpoints of the pair of the support links and t0 the base. A frame is slidably mounted within the base .and the lower ends of the support links are pivotally attached thereto, whereby straight-line horizontal movement of the frame within the base imparts a straight-line vertical'motion tothe platform through the movement of the support and control links. Blocks for supporting the jet nozzles are slidably mounted in horizontal slideways formed in the platform for horizontal movement of the jet nozzles towards and away from the coated strip, independent of the vertical position of the platform. 1

24 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU JAN 81974 SHEU 2 [IF 7 Not PATENTEUJ 81974 SHEET 3 BF 7 PAIENTED 3.783.824

SHEET 5 0F 7 PATENTED JAN 8 74 SHEET 7 0F 7 ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTION FOR COATING' CONTROL EQUIPMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION through a bath of molten metal, such as zinc, lead, tin,

aluminum and compositions thereof. Coating control apparatus then acts upon the strip as it leaves the molten bath to meter and smooth the metal coating remaining on the strip.

One means of coating control involves the use of a pair of exit rolls which run partially submerged below the surface of the metal bath to meter and smooth the coating. This construction has many drawbacks, including wear and corrosion of the coating rolls requiring frequent changes of the rolls with the attendant loss of production time. The worn and damaged rolls before change may result in producing much scrap material.

This prior equipment, however, is useful for certain coating applications, especially for applying heavy coating weights to metal strips moving at very low speeds.

These prior coating exit rolls are mounted in individual frames and are supported in pairs on elevators which consist of power positioned, vertically movable platforms. The two roll carrying or mounting frames usually are bolted together with one of the frames having resilient spring means to control the pressure between the rolls'. The pair of exit rolls position the strip with respect to themselves and deflect the strip from its normal path if necessary.

The prior coating roll elevators usually were made with parts loosely fitted'together to avoid binding due to heat, dirt, and corrosion. Such constructions permitted the elevators to rock and tilt within undesirable wide limits making accurate coating control difficult to achieve.

More recent coating control equipment has used gaseous jets issuing from nozzles such as described in US.

Pat. No. 3,314,163. Two nozzles have been used, one

roll elevators previously used for coating rolls, interchangeably with the exit roll frames. Each nozzle mount provided for controlled power movement of the nozzle toward and away from the strip. The mounts also permitted the nozzles to be skewed when acting on a strip which was not running exactly square with the coating machine centerline. The mounts further included mechanism for power opening and closing the nozzle jets, similar to the mechanism described in US. Pat. No. 3,314,163, and included mechanism forcontrol of the angle of the nozzle jets relative to the vertical strip.

Such nozzle mountings and elevator assemblies did not permit individual elevation control of the two nozzles without changing the nozzle angle. Likewise, the looseness and instability of these elevators were serious handicaps to satisfactory coating control operations.

Distance of the nozzle jets from the strip, angle of the nozzle jets with respect to the strip, and the relative vertical position of the nozzle jets on the .two sides of the strip are critical parameters in the proper functioning of the jets to achieve quality coating control.

The amount of uncontrolled rocking and tilting of the old style (coating-rolLmounting) elevators can cause a change in the nozzle-to-strip distance of as much as one inch, and can change the relative vertical position of the jet impingement points a substantial amount, as well as change of the nozzle jet angles. Such rocking and tilting, thus prevents or seriously limits the desired coating control of the passing steel strip.

A need thus has existed for an elevator construction for rigidly mounting and positioning hot metal coating control jet nozzles which eliminates difficulties encountered with prior constructions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing an elevator construction for hot metal strip coating equipment with means for stably, rigidly and repeatably positioning jet nozzles vertically and horizontally as well as means to skew the position of the nozzles vertically and horizontally, with respect to the strip being coated, to thereby enable the nozzle mounts to be simplified so as to include only means for opening, closing and adjusting the angle of the nozzle, and for introducing the jet fluid to the nozzle; providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment in which the elevators are mounted permanently with respect to a molten metal bath, and in which the elevators include nozzle mounting means that permit the nozzle assemblies to be changed easily and conveniently by a crane with a minimum amount of downtime in the event of damage to or r for servicing the nozzle; providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment in which two pairs of linkages are contained in each elevator unit which support a platform on which one or two horizontal slides are mounted for horizontal adjustment of coating control nozzles, and in which the linkages are mounted in a lower horizontal slide frame whichprovides vertical adjustment of the nozzles; providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment in which all the mechanism joints are closely fitted pivots and the linkages are equal and are interconnected resulting in a rigid movable assembly for the coating control nozzle mounts; providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment in which the nozzle mounts for connecting coating control nozzles to the elevator slides include gimbal assemblies for limited horizontal and vertical movement, for skewing the nozzles horizontally with respect to the metal strip and to compensate for lateral tracking of the strip, respectively, and in which the lateral tracking means may be power operated; preferably providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment having adjustable mounting means for a stabilizing roll which is held against the strip just below the surface of the molten metal for flattening the strip and for stabilizing the strip as close as possible to the coating control nozzles; providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment which permits various arrangements or positions of the individual elevator units used for supporting either one or two coating control nozzles spaced from the steel strip; providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment enabling different operating power means to be used for the same basic control functions; and providing an elevator construction for such coating equipment eliminating difficulties heretofore encountered, achieving the stated objectives simply and effectively, and solving problems and satisfying existing needs.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the elevator construction for coating control equipment, the general nature of which may be stated as including base means; means forming a horizontal slideway in the base means; frame means slidably mounted within the base slideway; platform means; linkage means movably mounting the platform means on the base means; the linkage means including two pairs of spaced parallel support links, and control link means; the support links being equal to each other in length, and the control link means having a length equal to one-half the length of the support links; the support links having upper and lower ends, the lower ends being pivotally connected to the frame means and the upper ends being pivotally connected to the platform means; the control link means having upper and lower ends, the lower end being pivotally connected to the base means and the upper end being pivotally connected to the midpoints of either pair of the support links; means engageable with the frame means for sliding the frame means within the base means slideway, whereby the linkage means inparts straight-line vertical motion to the platform means from the straight-line horizontal motion of the frame means; means on the platform means for supporting coating control equipment; means forming a' horizontal slideway in the platform means, the coating control equipment support means being slidably mounted within the platform means slideway; gimbal means engageable with the support means for attaching the coating control equipment to the support means; and secondary vertical adjustment means mounted on the coating control equipment support means for vertical movement of the control equipment independent of the platform means position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention illustrative of the best modes in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles are set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of coating control equipment provided with the improved elevator construction supporting a pair of jet nozzle assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22, FIG. 1, with the nozzle assemblies shown in horizontally adjusted positions in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the coating control equipment shown in FIG. 1, with the upper vertical position of the jet nozzle assemblies shown in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the improved elevator construction taken on line 4-4, FIG. 3, with the upper vertical adjustment position shown in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the elevator base assembly taken on line 6-6, FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the elevator base assembly taken on line 7--7, FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the elevator upper platform assembly, taken on line 88, FIG. 4; I

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the elevator base slider frame of FIG. 6 removed from the elevator base assembly;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1010, FIG.-4;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of one of the front nozzle mounting blocks detached from the elevator platform showing the vertical trim adjustment assembly;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12, FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13--l3, FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 14-l4, FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of an end of the nozzle assembly mounting frame detached from the elevator platform, showing the gimbal mounting assembly; I

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16-16, FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 17-17, FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an alternate arrangement of the improved elevator construction, showing two pairs of individual elevator units, each pair of which supports a separate nozzle assembly;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken on line l919, FIG. 18, showing the modified elevator slide and linkage arrangement;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary sectiona view taken on line 20-20, FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic top plan view of another alternate arrangement of the improved elevator construction, similar to FIG. 18, in which the elevator base slide is rotated with respect to the upper elevator platform slide;

FIG. 22is a diagrammatic elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 22-22, FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view, with portions broken away and in section, of the modified elevator slide and linkage arrangement of FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary diagrammatic elevational view of the modified elevator slide and linkage arrangement, looking in the direction of arrows 24-24, FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary front elevation, similar to FIG. 20, showing the modified elevator construction supporting a pair of exit coating control rolls;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 26-26, FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, with portions in section, showing the elevator platform in maximum, raised vertical adjusted position, and the nozzle mounting beams shown in fully retracted positions (solid lines) and in fully extended positions (dotdash lines); and

FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 27, showing the elevator platform in maximum, lowered vertical adjusted position, and the nozzle mounting beams shown in fully extended positions (solid lines) and in fully retracted positions (dot-dash lines).

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment An installation for coating steel strip with molten metal is illustrated generally in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The coating equipment is indicated generally at 1 and is mounted above and adjacent to a reservior or pot 2 of molten metal 3, such as zinc, lead, tin, aluminum and the like. A continuous trip of steel 4 is fed downwardly through a feed chute 5 into the bath of metal 3, around a pot sink roll 6, and then upwardly past a stabilizing roll 7, and then moves out of pot 2 and through coating equipment 1 in the direction of the arrows.

The coating equipment 1 includes a pair of spaced elevator assemblies 8 which support and position a pair of front and rear coating control jet nozzle assemblies, generally indicated at 9 and 9A (FIG. 2). Gaseous fluid lines 10, such as steam lines, connect nozzle assemblies 9 and 9A to a source of gaseous fluid for impinging a jet of such fluid from the nozzles against the coated surfaces of strip 4. The manner of controlling metal coating on strip 4 by use of such gaseous jets of fluid is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,163 and said application Ser. No. 841,936.

Each fluid line 10 includes a flexible portion 11 which is connected at one end to a source of gaseous fluid and which is connected at the other end to a seam header 12 by a coupling 13. Flexible supply lines 14 are connected to each header 12 by couplings 15 to supply the steam to the nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly 9 and 9A includes a main horizontal support beam 16 and end support beams 17 at each end thereof. Lifting hooks 18 extend upwardly from beam 16 for easy engagement by a crane for removalof an entire nozzle assembly 9 or 9A from elevator assemblies 8 for repair or replacement of the nozzle assemblies. Steam header I2 is mounted on main support beam 16 by a support block 19 and mounting ring 20.

A fluid jet nozzle 21 is suspended beneath beam 16 and is attached thereto by a pair of spaced suspension and control assemblies 22, one of which is mounted at each end of nozzle 21. Plates 23 are welded to the bottom of beam 16 and are bolted to similar plates 24 welded to side plates 25 of control assemblies 22.

Nozzles 21 preferably are of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,163. Open and close mechanism, and adjustment means for positioning the angle of nozzle 21 with respect to strip 4 are mounted on side plates 25. Gears 26 may be one means by which such nozzle angle adjustment is accomplished.

Indicators 27, which show the angular setting of jet nozzles 21, are mounted on control rods 28 which extend upwardly from control assemblies 22. A manual angle adjustment hand wheel 29 extends outwardly from a mounting plate 30 which is welded to main beam 16, for manual adjustment of the jet nozzles. Wheel shaft 31 is connected to control rod 28 in a gear box 32 which is mounted on a channel 33 welded to the top of beam 16. I

The described jet nozzle assembles 9 and 9A, gaseous fluid lines 10, molten metal pot 2, and associated equipment and components, are known items and their particular construction forms no part of the invention. They illustrate one specific type of coating control equipment that may be a part of the hot metal strip steel coating equipment with which the improved elevator construction is combined.

The elevator assemblies 8 of the spaced pair of supporting elevators for jet nozzle assemblies 9 and 9A are similar, and therefore only one elevator assembly 8 is shown in detail in the drawings and is described below.

Elevator assembly 8 includes a lower base assembly 34 (FIGS. 4-7) and an upper platform assembly 35 movably supported on base assembly 34 by a linkage assembly 36.

Base assembly 34 has a fixed base 37 and a slider frame 38 movably mounted within base 37. Base 37 includes a bottom plate 39 mounted on foundation block 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4), and a pair of upwardly extending spaced guide posts'41 for slidably supporting slider frame 38. Posts 41 are welded at 42 to plate 39 and they extend longitudinally along the sides of plate 39 (FIGS. 5 and 7).

Slider retainer bars 43 are secured by bolts 44 to the tops of guide posts 41. Shoulders 45 are formed at the lower ends of posts 41 in which slider wear plates 46 are mounted to form a channel-like slideway 47 together with retainer bars 43 between posts 41 for slid- V ably mounting slider frame 38.

A U-shaped bracket 48 is welded at 49 to plate 39 to which a hydraulic cylinder 50 is bolted at 51. A cylinder rod 52 extending from cylinder 50 is connected to slider frame 38 to move slider frame 38 along base slideway 47. I

Slider frame 38 (FIG. 9-) is a rigid member having two pairs of spaced bars 53-54 and 55-56 which extend longitudinally in one direction from the ends of a rear crossbar 57. Reinforcing spacers 58 extend between and strengthen the individual pairs of bars 53-54 and 55-56.

Reinforcing flanges 59 extend between rear crossbar 57 and inner bars 54 and 55, and an intermediate crossbar 60 also extends between inner bars 54 and 55 to provide a rigid and stable frame. A second reinforcing bar 61 is attached to cross-bar 60 and a slider stop block 62 is connected to reinforcing bar 61. v

Outer bars 53 and 56 of slider frame 38 are mounted within slideways 47 (FIG. 7) formed in guide posts 41, to slidably mount slider frame 38 in base 37 for movement between extended and retracted positions.

Platform assembly 35 (FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 10) includes a rigid frame 63 which forms a slideway 64 for a pair of slider supprot blocks 65 and 66. Front and rear support blocks 65 and 66, respectively, provide the movable support means for nozzle assemblies 9 on elevator assemblies 8.

Platform frame 63 is rectangular, having outer side members 67 and 68, front and rear end cross members 69 and 70, and an intermediate cross member 71. Spaced inner guide rails 72 and 73 are connected to form slideway 64 therebetween for horizontal move:

' ment of support blocks 65 and 66. 7

Guide rails 72 and 73 are formed with lowershoulders 74 (FIGS. 8 and 10) which extend nearly the entire length of rails 72 and 73 from rear end cross member 70 towards front end cross member 69. Guide rails 72 and 73 are spaced from outer frame members 67 and 68, respectively, by reinforcing spacers 75 to provide a rigid and stable paltform construction. Support block retainer bars 724 and 73a are attached to the top of guide rails 72 and 73, respectively, by bolts 73c.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 76 and 77, for horizontal movement of support blocks 65 and 66, respectively, within slideway 64, are bolted at 78 to front end frame cross member 69.

Piston rod 79 of cylinder 76 is connected to block 65 by means of an adapter sleeve 80 and clevis 81. Clevis 81 is welded to block 65. Piston rod 82 of cylinder 77 is connected to an extension rod 83 by a clevis 84. Extension rod 83 extends beneath support block 65 (FIG. 8) within slideway 64 and is threadably connected to block 66. A locking nut 85 secures rod 83 in position on block 66.

Linkage assembly 36 has a four bar parallel bar linkage for supporting platform assembly 35 and a two bar parallel control linkage for controlling the motion of the four bar linkage. Linkage assembly 36 is an application of an isosceles sliding block linkage, also referred to in principles of mechanics as a Scott Russell Straight-Line Mechanism. This linkage arrangement provides straight-line vertical motion to platform assembly 35 (FIGS. 4, 27 and 28) by means of horizontal straight-line motion applied to slider frame 38.

Links 86, 87, 88 and 89 form the four bar supporting linkage of linkage assembly 36. Front links 86 and 87, and rear links 88 and 89 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to slider frame 38 (FIG. 9) by pins 90, 91, 92 and 93, respectively, and extend at an acute angle with respect to base 37 upward towards platform assembly 35. The lower ends of links 86 and 88 are pivotally mounted between frame bars 53 and 54, and the lower ends oflinks 87 and 89 are pivotally mounted between frame bars 55 and 56.

The upperends of links 86-89 are pivotally connected to platform frame 63 (FIG. by pins 94, 95, 96 and 97, respectively. The upper ends of links 86 and 88 are pivotally mounted between frame outer side member 67 and inner guide rail 72, and the upper ends of links 87 and 89 are pivotally mounted between frame outer side member 68 and inner guide rail 73. Links 86-89 are equal in length and parallel to each other forming a parallelogram or pantogram structure together with platform assembly 35 and base assembly 34.

Links 98 and 99 (FIG. 6) form the parallel control linkage for controlling the movements of linkage assembly 36. Control links 98 and 99 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a fixed pivot block 100 by pivot pin 101. Pivot block 100 is welded to bottom plate 39 of base assembly 34 and thus is fixed on base plate 39.

The upper ends of control links 98 and 99 are pivotally connected to front support links 86 and 87 by a horizontal pivot bar 102 (FlGS.'7 and 27). Pivot bar 102 is located at the midpoint of links 86 and 87, with control links 98 and 99 having a length between pivot points equal to one-half the length of support links 86-89, between pivot points.

The upper or platform pivot points of the support links to which the control links are pivotally connected will always be vertically aligned with the control links fixed pivot point, as shown in FIGS. 4, 23, 27 and 28, due to the control links being one-half the length of the support links and since the control links are connected to the midpoints of the support links.

Thus, in FIGS. 4, 5, 27 and 28 pivot points 94 and are vertically aligned with fixed pivot point 101 regardless of the vertical position of platform assembly 35. Likewise, due to this specific linkage arrangement, pivot point 102 which connects control links 98 and 99 to support links 86 and 87, will follow an arcuate path about fixed pivot point 101 as the center, with the radius of curvature equal to the length of control links 98 and 99 between pivot points 101 and 102.

Control links 98 and 99 may be connected in the same manner to rear support links 88 and 89 instead of front links 86 and 87, and the resulting linkage arrangement will continue to move platform assembly 35 vertically as slider frame 38 moves horizontally within slideway 47.

Furthermore, linkage assembly 36 can achieve the same motion if only single front and rear support links and a single control link is'used, such as links 86, 88 and 90. The use of link pairs instead of single links, however, is preferable due to the increased lateral stability achieved.

Fixed base 37 thus forms a slideway 47 for horizontal straight-line motion of slider frame 38 therein, and

' celes linkage arrangement.

This vertical straight-line motion of platform assembly 35 is shown best in FIGS. 27 and 28. The maximum, raised vertical adjusted position of assembly 35 (extended position) is shown in FIG. 27, and the minimum, lowered vertical position (retracted position) is shown in FIG. 28.

Vertical extended position is achieved by movement of slider frame 38 to the rearmost horizontal position (right-hand end of FIG. 27) of slideway 47. Vertical retracted position is achieved by movement of slider frame 38 to the frontmost horizontal position (lefthand end of FIG. 28) of slideway 47. Thus, as slider frame 38 moves horizontally within slideway 47, platform assembly 35 moves vertically in a straight line- (FIG. 4) to move the nozzle, assemblies 9 mounted thereon in a straight vertical path along a vertically traveling-molten metal coated strip 4.

The particular rigid construction of slider frame 38 and platform frame 63, together with the doubleparallel support and control linkages provide a very stable and rigid elevator construction. The parallel arrangement of the frame members and bars, having a plurality of lateral interconnecting reinforcing bars forming base 37, slider frame 38 and platform frame 63, provides an elevator assembly having strong lateral rigidity to resist lateral forces and prevent elevator wobbling, heretofore existing in prior elevator devices.

Likewise, since all joints are closely fitted pivots, and the pairs of linkages are equal to each other and are interconnected, the result is a rigid vertically movable platform for supporting the nozzle support blocks.

Main nozzle support beams 16 are removably mounted on pairs of slider support blocks 65 and 66 by gimbal assemblies 103 mounted on end beams 17 at each end of beam 16 (FIGS. 4, 15, 16 and 17).

Beam ends 17 are hollow box-like housings and are formed by side walls 104 and 105, and end wall 106. Oppositely aligned rectangular openings 107 are formed in each side wall 104 and 105 for slidably mounting gimbal assembly 103 therein.

Each gimbal assembly 103 has a pair of spaced bushings 108 slidably mounted within openings 107, and which are retained therein by flanged shoulders 109 on bushings 108. A gimbal block 110 is mounted within the hollow interior of beam end 17 by a pair of horizontally extending mounting bolts 111. Bolts 111 extend laterally through openings 107 and are journalled in bushings 108 and are secured therein by nuts 112 and washers 113.

A main beam vertical pivot pin 1 14 extends vertically through a central bore 115 formed in block 110 and is retained therein by a lock nut 116, washer 117, and a dowel pin 118. Pin 118 extends through a portion of block 110 and into pivot pin 114.

A pivot block 119 is welded to the top of front slider support block 65 (FIG. 4) and is formed with a central bore 120 for receiving beam pivot pin 114. Gimbal block 1 l rests upon and is supported by support block 65 which also is formed with an opening 121 for receiving the extended end of pin 114.

Rear slider support block 66 may have a construction similar to front support block 65 for supporting and receiving gimbal assembley 103. Rear support block 66 preferably is provided with additional secondary vertical adjustment means, independent of elevator assembly 8, which receives beam pivot 114. Such independent vertical adjustment means is referred to as trirn adjustment means and is indicated generally at 122, and is described below (FIGS. ll-14).

Gimbal assemblies 103, thus provide a simple removable mounting means for mounting nozzle assemlies 9 on elevator assemblies 8. Gimbal assemblies 103 enable nozzle assemblies 9 and 9A to be removed easily from and mounted on elevator assemblies 8 by a crane or like equipment, without requiring extensive equipment downtime for uncoupling or coupling the nozzle assemblies from or to the elevator assemblies.

Gimbal assemblies 103 provide for lateral tracking of strip 4 by enabling the nozzle assemblies to be moved for a short distance in a horizontal direction laterally of and parallel with strip 4. Such parallel horizontal movement insures that the jet nozzles 21 are positioned properly with respect to strip 4 for control of the metal coating at the edges of the strip. Thus, the nozzles are positioned so that the strip is centered with respect to the nozzle jets.

Movement of beams 16 and supported nozzle assemblies 9 and 9A by gimbal assemblies 103 may be accomplished manually by an adjustable'linkage rod connecting gimbal block 110 to beam 16 (not shown). Preferably, movement of each beam 16 is power activated by a hydraulic cylinder 123 mounted within an end beam 17 (FIGS. and 16).

Control cylinder 123 is pivotally mounted at one and j by clevis 124 to a plate' 125 which extends between beam side walls 104 and 105. Piston rod 126 is threadinders 123 beam 16 moves horizontally, along and parallel with strip 4 by the sliding engagement of gimbal bushings 108 within beam openings 107.

Gimbal pin 114 also enables beam 16 to be skewed horizontally with respect to strip 4 by the horizontal movement of only one of a pair of the support blocks 65 and 66. For example, independent movement of front support block 65 horizontally forwardly along platform frame 63 (arrow A, FIG. 28 to the position shown in dot-dash lines, without horizontal movement of the opposite front support block 65, will skew beam 16 within respect to strip 4 by gimbal pins 1 l4 pivoting within pivot block bores and support block openings 121.

Gimbal assemblies 103, likewise prevent binding of beams 16 on elevator assemblies 8 should a single elevator assembly 8 of a pair, be moved independently of its companion elevator assembly.

Vertical trim adjustment assemblies 122 provide for independent vertical adjustment of rear nozzle assembly 9A with respect to front nozzle assembly 9, regardless of the vertical position of elevator assemblies 8. Nozzle assembly 9A is provided with a vertical trim adjustment assembly 122 at each end support beam 17 for mounting nozzle assembly 9A on a pair of elevator assemblies 8.

Each trim adjustment assembly 122 (FIGS. 11-14)'is mounted on a rear slider support block 66 and includes a main adjusting screw, indicated at 128. Screw 128 is cylindrical and has upper, intermediate and lower smooth cylindrical portions 129, 130 and 131, respectively, each of which has a smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion next above.

A helical threaded portion 132 is located between cylindrical portions 129 and 130, a threaded portion 132 vertically movably mounts trim adjustment screw 128 within threaded aperature 133 which extends vertically partially through support block 66. Upper cylindrical portion 129 extends outwardly above the top of block 66 and is surrounded by a reinforcing collar 134 welded at 135 to block 66.

An axial bore 136 is formed in the upper portion of screw 128 and extends downwardly from the top of screw 128 through screw portions 129 and 132 into intermediate portion 130. Gimbal pivot pins 114 are received in bores 136 for mounting nozzle assembly 9b on support blocks 66.

A worm gear housing 137 is mounted on the bottom of support block 66 by -bolts 138 which also mount a stop plate 139 on the bottom of housing 137. Housing 137 is formed with a vertically extending opening 140 into which a lower portion of screw 128 extends, on which a series of vertical spline ribs or gear teeth 141 are formed. Lower smooth cylindrical screw portion 131 projects from the bottom of housing 137 through a hole 142 in stop plate 139. An end plate 143 is mounted on the bottom of lower screw portion 131 by bolts 144. I

A worm gear shaft 145 extends through a generally horizontally extending opening 146 formed in housing 137, which opening intersects vertical opening 140. Shaft 145 is formed with a worm gear 147 which meshes with gear teeth 141 of screw 128.

A hydraulic motor 148 is bolted at 149 to side wall 150 of housing 137, and motor shaft 151 is coupled to worm gear shaft 145. Actuation of motor 148 rotates worm gear shaft 145, which in turn rotates screw 128 within block aperture 133 causing screw 128 to move vertically in one direction or the other within block 66 due to the threaded mounting of screw portion 132 within block 66. A partially extended vertical position of screw 128 is shown in dot-dash lines, FIG. 12. The maximum retracted position of screw 128 is shown in full lines.

Thus, by simultaneously actuating trim adjustment motors 148 in support blocks 66, beam 16 and nozzle assembly 9A can be adjusted vertically with respect to nozzle assembly 9 independent of the position of elevator assemblies 8. Such adjustment is desirable so as to position one nozzle assembly slightly higher than the opposite nozzle assemblies in some coating operations to reduce noise and to eliminate interference between the pressure dams created on strip 4 by the nozzle jets.

The vertical skew of nozzle 9b with respect to strip 4 can be established by raising or lowering only one trim screw 128. Screws 128 are raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of dualdirectional motors 148.

Stabilizing roll assemblies 152 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) for mounting stabilizing roll 7 beneath molten metal 3 may be mounted on elevator assemblies 8. Each stabilizing roll assembly 152 has a vertical adjusting screw assembly 153 and a horizontal adjusting screw assembly 154 for positioning roll 7 with respect to strip 4. Adjusting assemblies 153 and 154 contain adjusting rod and screw mechanisms completely enclosed within outer casings 155 and 156, respectively, to maintain the adjusting mechanism free of contamination and dirt.

Mounting brackets 157 extend horizontally outwardly from roll adjusting assemblies .153 and 154. Plates 158 extend downwardly from the outer ends of brackets 157 and mount a horizontal spreader beam 159 therebetween. A pair of stabilizing roll arms 160 extend downwardly and outwardly from beam 159 beneath nozzle assembly 9 towards strip 4. Stabilizing roll 7 extends between and is journalled on the outer ends of arms 160 parallel with beam 159.

The stabilizing roll assembly is mounted on elevator base assembly 34 by pairs ofv upwardly curved mounting plates 161 and 162 which are welded at one end to bottom plate 39 and guide post 41 of base assembly 34 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7). The other ends of plates 161 and 162 connect to stabilizing roll adjusting assemblies 153 and 154.

The particular arrangement and construction of the stabilizing roll assembly combined with and mounted on the improved elevator assemblies 8 enables a stabilizing roll assembly to be mounted on and extend between the elevator bases and to be used in conjunction therewith for many types of coating operations where it is desirable to use a stabilizing roll.

The improved elevator assemblies 8 normally support jet nozzle assemblies, similar to nozzle assemblies 9 and 9A, for most coating installations, to obtain coating control advantages obtained by jet nozzles such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,3l4,l63. However, sometimes it is desirable for certain hot metal coating control operations, as referred to above, to use a pair of exit coating rolls at the level of the molten metal in the coating bath, instead of jet nozzles.

Elevators 8 may be used for supporting and positioning such exit coating rolls, as is illustrated in FIGS. and 26. Support beams 163 have angled end beam sections 17 in which gimbal assemblies 103 are slidably mounted for mounting beams 163 on elevators 8 in the same manner described above, as jet nozzle assemblies 9 and 9A are mounted on elevators 8.

Plates 164 are welded to the bottom sides of beams 163, and a second pair of plates 165 are bolted to plates 164 at 166. Exit roll mounting arms 167 extend downwardly from plates 165 and a pair of exit rolls 168 and 169 are mounted at the lower ends of arms 167 partially submerged in the molten metal in pot 170. The coating bath level is shown at 170A.

Rolls 168 and 169 can be adjusted horizontally, vertically and at skewed angles with respect to strip 4 on elevators 8 in the same manner as are jet nozzles 9 and 9A. The complete exit roll assembly can be installed and removed from elevators 8 easily without assembling or disassembling component parts due to the slip pivot pin connection of gimbal pins 114 in the corresponding elevator support blocks.

Second Embodiment A modified form of the improved elevator assembly is indicated at 200 and is shown generally diagrammatically in FIGS. l8, l9 and 20. Elevator assembly 200 is similar to elevator assembly 8 having a fixed base 201, a slider frame 202 movably mounted within base 201, and a vertically adjustable platform assembly 203 supported by a linkage assembly 204. Base 201, slider frame 202, platform 203 and linkage assembly 204 are similar to base 37, slider frame 38, platform assembly and linkage assembly 36, respectively, of elevator 8.

Opposed platform assemblies 203 are formed with slideways 205. A single nozzle assembly support block 206 is slidably mounted for horizontal movement on each slideway 205, whereas two support blocks 65 and 66 are slidably mounted within slideway 64 of elevator assembly 8.

Linkage assembly 204 has a four bar parallel bar support linkage comprised of a pair of front links 207 and a pair of rear links 208. A pair of control links 209 extend from a fixed pivot block 210 and are pivotally connected by a pivot bar 211 to the center point of link pair208. Link pairs 207 and 208 are equal in length and parallel to each other, and control link pair 209 have one-half the length of support links 207 and 208 between pivot points. v

Elevator assembly 200 operates similar to elevator assembly 8 for vertical movement of elevator platform 203 and for independent horizontal movement of support block 206 with slideway 205. The particular arrangement, interconnection and sliding components forming the isosceles linkage provide for the straightline vertical motion of platform assembly 203 by the horizontal straight-line motion .of slider frame 202.

Four separate elevator assemblies 200 are required for each coating installation with two separate elevator assemblies 200 being required for each jet nozzle assembly, as shown in FIG. 18; whereas only two separate 7 elevator assemblies 8 are required for each coating installation (FIG. 1) since platform assembly 35 supports and provides a horizontal slideway for two jet nozzle assemblies.

Third Embodiment movably mounted within base 216, and an isosceles linkage assembly 218 mounting a horizontal platform assembly 219.

A horizontally extending slideway 220 for movably mounting a nozzle assembly support block 221 is formed by a guide frame 222 on platform base 223. Guide frame 222 and slideway 220 extend transversely to platform base 223 and to base 216 instead of longitudinally thereof as in elevator assemblies 8 and 200. Elevator assembly 215, thus is similar to elevator assembly 200 except that the elevator platform horizontal slideway 220 is rotated 90 from the position of horizontal slideway 205 of elevator assembly 200.

Elevator assembly 215 is adapted particularly for use on a cantilever type mounting base 224 which may be required due to the type of molten metal pot 225 being used in the coating installation.

Bases 216 are rotated 90 with respect to the nozzle support beams 16 to enable the width of cantilever base 224 to be as small as possible.

isosceles linkage assembly 218 is modified slightly from isosceles linkages 36 and 204 by the addition of a second pair of parallel control links 227 which extend from a fixed pivot block 228 to the midpoint of front support links 229. A second pair of parallel control links 230 extend from rear fixed pivot block 231 to the midpoint of rear support links 232.

Control links 227 are added to provide increased rigidity and support for platform assembly 219 due to its rotated position with respect to base 216 and due to the cantilever mounting arrangement.

The vertical movement of platform assembly 219 by the sliding movement of slider frame 217 through isosceles linkage assembly 218 is similar to elevator movement in assemblies 8 and 200.

IN GENERAL In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described above, elevator means is provided for rigidly supporting coating control equipment, preferably jet nozzle assemblies, in relation to a vertically extending metal strip coated with molten metal.

The elevator means has a pantographic linkage assembly of four parallel links pivotally connected at their lower ends to a sliding frame, and at their upper ends to a platform assembly. Control links, one-half the length of the support links-between pivot points, are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a fixed base, and are pivotally connected at their upper end to the midpoint of a pair of the support links.

The fixed base is formed with a horizontal slideway in which the slider frame is movably mounted for horizontal sliding movement. The platform assembly is formed with a horizontal slideway for slidably mounting one or more support blocks on which the coating control equipment is mounted.

The linkage arrangement transfers straight-line horizontal motion of the sliding frame within the base slideway into straight-line vertical motion of the platform assembly. Various control means also are provided for independently moving the support blocks horizontally along the platform assemblies regardless of the vertical position of the elevator means.

Accordingly, the elevator construction provides stable, rigid means of positioning and adjusting jet coating control nozzles or other control devices vertically, horizontally, and at skewed angles with respect to a passing strip coated with hot metal, and enables the jet nozzles to be repeatedly moved to a plurality of adjusted control positions to achieve uniform control for numerous coating procedures; provides gimbal mounting means for the nozzle assemblies enabling horizontal movement parallel to the coated strip for tracking of the strip, and to reduce the'possibility of damage to the nozzle assemblies due to binding of the nozzle assemblies by excess independent adjustment of only one of the elevator assemblies of a pair; provides trim adjustment means whereby'one nozzle assembly of a pair of such nozzleassemblies may be adjusted vertically for a short distance without movement of the main elevator assembly and without adjustment of the other nozzle assembly; permits the replacement of the jet nozzle assemblies with exit coating roll assemblies to achieve coating control in special coating operations; provides an elevator assembly which may be modified to be adaptable for mounting on various foundations which are used to conform to the molten metal pot construction; and provides such a'construction which is effective, safe, and efficient in assembly, operation and use, and which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

Although the above discussion and drawings illustrate the improved elevator assembly being used for holding and positioning jet nozzles for coating control of hot molten metal applied to steel strip the elevator mechanism is not limited to such use. Theelevator assembly may be used in control of various types of coatings applied to paper, fabric and numerous other materials, and may mount and position additional equipment other than jet nozzles as illustrated.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the, prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the,improved elevator construction for coating control equipment is constructed, assembled and operated, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. Elevator construction for coating control equipment including base means; horizontally extending slideway means mounted on the base means; frame means mounted for straight-line slidable movement on the base slideway means; platform means; linkage means movably mounting the platform means on the base means; said linkage means including spaced parallel support link means, and control link means; the support link means having upper and lower ends; pivotal connections between the support link means lower ends and the frame means; pivotal connections between the support link means upper ends and the platform means; the control link means having upper and lower ends; pivotal connections between the control link means lower end and a fixed point on the base means; pivotal connections between the control link means upper end and the spaced support link means midpoint; the spaced links of the support link means having equal lengths between end pivotal connections; the control link means having a length between pivotal connections equal to one-half the length of said support link length between pivotal connections; means for slidably moving the frame means on the base horizontal slideway means; whereby the linkage means imparts straight-line vertical motion to the platform means from the straight-line horizontal movement of the frame means; and means removably supporting coating control equipment on the platform means.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the frame means is a rigid member including a rear crossbar, two pairs of spaced side bars extending longitudinally in one direction from the ends of the crossbar, and reinforcing spacers extending between the individual pairs of side bars; and in which pin means mounted on the frame means extending between the spaced side bars of each pair pivotally connect the lower ends of the support links between the individual pairs of side bars.

3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which an intermediate crossbar extends between and is connected to the individual pairs of side bars; and in which the means for slidably moving the frame means engages the intermediate crossbar.

4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the base means includes a bottom plate, and a pair of spaced parallel guide posts extending along opposite sides of the bottom plate, the guide posts having opposite facing channels formed therein extending longitudinally along opposite sidesof the bottom plate forming the horizontally extending slideway means, and the frame means being slidably mounted in said channels.

5. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the support link means includes two laterally spaced pairs of spaced parallel support links, and a pivot bar extending between the midpoints of one set of laterally opposite links of each pair; and in which the upper end of the control link means is pivotally connected to the pivot bar. 1

6. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the control link means includes a pivot block mounted on the base means, a pair of control links having upper and lower ends, and the lower ends of the control links being pivotally connected to the pivot block; in which the support link means includes two laterally spaced pairs of spaced parallel'support links, and a pivot bar extending between the midpoints of one set of laterally opposite links of each pair; and in which the upper ends of the control links are pivotally connected to the pivot bar.

7. The construction defined in claim 1 in which horizontally extending platform slideway means is mounted on the platform means; in which at least one slider support block is slidably mounted in theplatform means; in which the slider block removably supports the coating control equipment on the platform means; and in which means is mounted on the platform means connected with the slider block for sliding the blocks along the platform slideway means.

8. The construction defined in claim- 7 in which the platform means includes frame means, a pair of spaced parallel guide posts extending longitudinally of and mounted on the frame means, and the guide posts having opposite facing channels formed therein extending longitudinally along the frame means forming the platform slideway means.

9. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the means removably supporting coating control equipment on the platform means includes gimbal means mounted on the coating control equipment, an opening formed in the slider support block, and pin means mounted on and extending vertically downward from said gimbal means into the opening pivotally mounting the gimbal means on the support block.

10. The construction defined in claim 9 in which the coating control equipment includes a support beam having an end, and in which adjustable means mounts the gimbal means on the end of the support beam.

11. The construction defined in claim 7 in which a plurality of slider support blocks is slidably mounted in the platform slideway means; in which each slider block removably supports a coating control equipment unit on the platform means; and in which means is mounted on the platform means separately'connected with each slider b]ock for individually and independently sliding each block along the platform slideway means.

12. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the longitudinal axis of the base slideway means is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the platform slideway means.

13. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the longitudinal axis of the base slideway means is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform slideway means. I

14. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the means removably supporting coating control equipment on the platform means includes means for adjusting the control equipment vertically with respect to the platform means.

15. The construction defined in claim 9 in which a vertically adjustable tubular sleeve having a top opening is mounted in the slider support block; in which the pin means extends into the tubular sleeve through the top opening; and in which motor means is mounted on the block engageable with the sleeve for vertically adjusting the sleeve.

16. The construction defined in claim 15 in which the sleeve is threaded into the block for vertical adjustment; and in which the motor means drivingly engages the sleeve to vertically adjust the sleeve position.

17. The construction defined in claim 16 in which the motor means has worm gear driving connection with the sleeve for adjusting the vertical position of the sleeve.

18. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the support link means includes two laterally spaced pairs of spaced parallel support links; in which the control link means includes two parallel pairs of control links; in which one pair of control links is pivotally connected to one set of laterally opposite links of each pair of support links; and in which the other pair of control links is pivotally connected to the other setof laterally opposite links of each pair of support links.

19. Coating control equipment including two generally parallel support beams; a coating control device suspended from each support beam; the beams and coating control devices being spaced laterally from each other to permit the passage therebetween of material to be coated; elevator mechanism supporting the ends of the beams including vertically movable platform means; horizontally acting motor means linkconnected with the platform means to impart vertical motion to the platform means; a support block for each end of each beam slidably mounted on the platform means; the support blocks at each pair of beam ends being relatively movable horizontally toward and way from each other at any position of vertical adjustment of the platform means; means for imparting relative horizontal movement to the support blocks to adjust the positions of the suspended coating control devices with respect to material to be coated passing therebetween; and means vertically pivotally removably mounting an end of each beam on one of the support blocks.

20. Coating control equipment'as defined in claim 19 in which gimbal means mounted on each end of each beam and having a vertically extending pin pivotally mounts the. end of each beam on one of the support blocks.

18 21. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 20 in which the gimbal means is longitudinally adjustably mounted on each end of each beam; and in which motor means for adjusting the gimbal means is mounted on the beams.

22. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 21 in which the removable, vertical, pivotal mounting of the gimbal means at at least one end of one beam on one of the support blocks is vertically adjustable.

23. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 19 in which the elevator mechanism includes a first vertically movable platform supporting two beam ends at one end of the equipment, and a second vertically movable platform supporting two beam ends at the other end of the equipment; and in which two support blocks are relatively, movably, horizontally,'slidably mounted on each platform.

24. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 19 in which one elevator mechanism having a vertically movable platform and horizontally acting motor means to impart vertical motion to the platform is provided 

1. Elevator construction for coating control equipment including base means; horizontally extending slideway means mounted on the base means; frame means mounted for straight-liNe slidable movement on the base slideway means; platform means; linkage means movably mounting the platform means on the base means; said linkage means including spaced parallel support link means, and control link means; the support link means having upper and lower ends; pivotal connections between the support link means lower ends and the frame means; pivotal connections between the support link means upper ends and the platform means; the control link means having upper and lower ends; pivotal connections between the control link means lower end and a fixed point on the base means; pivotal connections between the control link means upper end and the spaced support link means midpoint; the spaced links of the support link means having equal lengths between end pivotal connections; the control link means having a length between pivotal connections equal to one-half the length of said support link length between pivotal connections; means for slidably moving the frame means on the base horizontal slideway means; whereby the linkage means imparts straight-line vertical motion to the platform means from the straight-line horizontal movement of the frame means; and means removably supporting coating control equipment on the platform means.
 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the frame means is a rigid member including a rear crossbar, two pairs of spaced side bars extending longitudinally in one direction from the ends of the crossbar, and reinforcing spacers extending between the individual pairs of side bars; and in which pin means mounted on the frame means extending between the spaced side bars of each pair pivotally connect the lower ends of the support links between the individual pairs of side bars.
 3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which an intermediate crossbar extends between and is connected to the individual pairs of side bars; and in which the means for slidably moving the frame means engages the intermediate crossbar.
 4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the base means includes a bottom plate, and a pair of spaced parallel guide posts extending along opposite sides of the bottom plate, the guide posts having opposite facing channels formed therein extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the bottom plate forming the horizontally extending slideway means, and the frame means being slidably mounted in said channels.
 5. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the support link means includes two laterally spaced pairs of spaced parallel support links, and a pivot bar extending between the midpoints of one set of laterally opposite links of each pair; and in which the upper end of the control link means is pivotally connected to the pivot bar.
 6. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the control link means includes a pivot block mounted on the base means, a pair of control links having upper and lower ends, and the lower ends of the control links being pivotally connected to the pivot block; in which the support link means includes two laterally spaced pairs of spaced parallel support links, and a pivot bar extending between the midpoints of one set of laterally opposite links of each pair; and in which the upper ends of the control links are pivotally connected to the pivot bar.
 7. The construction defined in claim 1 in which horizontally extending platform slideway means is mounted on the platform means; in which at least one slider support block is slidably mounted in the platform means; in which the slider block removably supports the coating control equipment on the platform means; and in which means is mounted on the platform means connected with the slider block for sliding the blocks along the platform slideway means.
 8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the platform means includes frame means, a pair of spaced parallel guide posts extending longitudinally of and mounted on the frame means, and the guide posts having opposite facing channels formed therein extending longitudinally aloNg the frame means forming the platform slideway means.
 9. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the means removably supporting coating control equipment on the platform means includes gimbal means mounted on the coating control equipment, an opening formed in the slider support block, and pin means mounted on and extending vertically downward from said gimbal means into the opening pivotally mounting the gimbal means on the support block.
 10. The construction defined in claim 9 in which the coating control equipment includes a support beam having an end, and in which adjustable means mounts the gimbal means on the end of the support beam.
 11. The construction defined in claim 7 in which a plurality of slider support blocks is slidably mounted in the platform slideway means; in which each slider block removably supports a coating control equipment unit on the platform means; and in which means is mounted on the platform means separately connected with each slider block for individually and independently sliding each block along the platform slideway means.
 12. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the longitudinal axis of the base slideway means is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the platform slideway means.
 13. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the longitudinal axis of the base slideway means is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform slideway means.
 14. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the means removably supporting coating control equipment on the platform means includes means for adjusting the control equipment vertically with respect to the platform means.
 15. The construction defined in claim 9 in which a vertically adjustable tubular sleeve having a top opening is mounted in the slider support block; in which the pin means extends into the tubular sleeve through the top opening; and in which motor means is mounted on the block engageable with the sleeve for vertically adjusting the sleeve.
 16. The construction defined in claim 15 in which the sleeve is threaded into the block for vertical adjustment; and in which the motor means drivingly engages the sleeve to vertically adjust the sleeve position.
 17. The construction defined in claim 16 in which the motor means has worm gear driving connection with the sleeve for adjusting the vertical position of the sleeve.
 18. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the support link means includes two laterally spaced pairs of spaced parallel support links; in which the control link means includes two parallel pairs of control links; in which one pair of control links is pivotally connected to one set of laterally opposite links of each pair of support links; and in which the other pair of control links is pivotally connected to the other set of laterally opposite links of each pair of support links.
 19. Coating control equipment including two generally parallel support beams; a coating control device suspended from each support beam; the beams and coating control devices being spaced laterally from each other to permit the passage therebetween of material to be coated; elevator mechanism supporting the ends of the beams including vertically movable platform means; horizontally acting motor means link-connected with the platform means to impart vertical motion to the platform means; a support block for each end of each beam slidably mounted on the platform means; the support blocks at each pair of beam ends being relatively movable horizontally toward and way from each other at any position of vertical adjustment of the platform means; means for imparting relative horizontal movement to the support blocks to adjust the positions of the suspended coating control devices with respect to material to be coated passing therebetween; and means vertically pivotally removably mounting an end of each beam on one of the support blocks.
 20. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 19 in which gimbal means mounted on each end of each beam and haVing a vertically extending pin pivotally mounts the end of each beam on one of the support blocks.
 21. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 20 in which the gimbal means is longitudinally adjustably mounted on each end of each beam; and in which motor means for adjusting the gimbal means is mounted on the beams.
 22. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 21 in which the removable, vertical, pivotal mounting of the gimbal means at at least one end of one beam on one of the support blocks is vertically adjustable.
 23. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 19 in which the elevator mechanism includes a first vertically movable platform supporting two beam ends at one end of the equipment, and a second vertically movable platform supporting two beam ends at the other end of the equipment; and in which two support blocks are relatively, movably, horizontally, slidably mounted on each platform.
 24. Coating control equipment as defined in claim 19 in which one elevator mechanism having a vertically movable platform and horizontally acting motor means to impart vertical motion to the platform is provided for each end of each beam. 